The lipopolysaccharide export pathway in Escherichia coli: structure, organization and regulated assembly of the Lpt machinery

Mar Drugs. 2014 Feb 17;12(2):1023-42. doi: 10.3390/md12021023.

Abstract

The bacterial outer membrane (OM) is a peculiar biological structure with a unique composition that contributes significantly to the fitness of Gram-negative bacteria in hostile environments. OM components are all synthesized in the cytosol and must, then, be transported efficiently across three compartments to the cell surface. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a unique glycolipid that paves the outer leaflet of the OM. Transport of this complex molecule poses several problems to the cells due to its amphipatic nature. In this review, the multiprotein machinery devoted to LPS transport to the OM is discussed together with the challenges associated with this process and the solutions that cells have evolved to address the problem of LPS biogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Biological Transport / physiology
  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Lipopolysaccharides